Lee County says Alva EMS waits can top 15 minutes

ALVA, Fla. (WINK) — Lee County is moving forward with a new EMS station in Alva as public safety officials say some people in the area are already facing prolonged waits for a transport ambulance. Earlier this week, county commissioners approved about $7 million for construction of a new EMS station at 2480 Iverson St. 

Lee County Public Safety Director Benjamin Abes told commissioners Tuesday that the county has been studying growth, response times and areas where emergency services need to expand. For some calls in Alva, he said the nearest transport ambulance may have to come from River Hall or Lehigh Acres.

“The response time, though, for the transport ambulance is generally in excess of 10 to 15 minutes,” Abes said. “Best case scenario is they come from River Hall or they come from Lehigh Acres.”

Abes called those waits prolonged, particularly when crews are responding to critical emergencies. There is currently a paramedic assigned to an Alva fire truck, but that unit does not transport patients to a hospital. Abes said Lee County has been examining areas where new development and population growth are increasing the need for emergency services.

“We’re constantly looking at response times,” Abes said. “We’re constantly looking at the areas where we need to expand so that we can better serve the community.”

The county uses drive-time modeling to determine how quickly ambulances can reach different areas. Abes said the Alva site was selected in part because it gives crews access to communities along State Road 80, Joel Boulevard, areas near the county line and locations north of the Caloosahatchee River.

He told commissioners even relatively small differences in station location can affect how much territory crews can reach within the county’s response-time goals. River Hall resident Cataldo Marmeno said emergency services need to grow alongside new development.

“If they’re gonna have more developments, then they need to plan it and have emergency services put in those areas so they can, you know, take care of the people that’ll be out there,” Marmeno said.

Lee County EMS recorded 119,704 responses during a 12-month period highlighted by the county earlier this year. The county operates 38 ambulances around the clock, with another six ambulances running during 12-hour peak daytime shifts. Lee County EMS also operates out of 46 stations, some of which share space with local fire districts.

The new Alva station will be approximately 7,794 square feet and include operational, living and support space for EMS personnel. The project will also include utility improvements and an emergency generator. Construction is expected to begin in October and take about one year.

Lee County is also moving forward with a temporary EMS facility at 12850 North River Road, north of the Caloosahatchee. County officials said there is currently no EMS facility in that immediate area. The temporary location is intended to improve response times near North River Road and State Road 31 until a permanent Babcock Ranch EMS station can be built.

The temporary site will be provided rent-free, although Lee County will pay utility costs.